BAMANA KONO MASKS ARCHIVES, Mali

Masks of the Kono association, which enforces civic morality, are also
elongated and encrusted with sacrificial material. The kono masks were also
used in agricultural rituals, mostly to petition for a good harvest. They
usually represent an animal head with long open snout and long ears standing
in a V from the head, often covered with mud. In contrast to komo masks,
which are covered with feathers, horns and teeth, those of the kono society
are elegant and simple. The headdress are worn horizontally.

Bamana jow (initiation societies) have a tremendous importance in social
and religious life. In jow like Komo, Kono, Nama, and Ci-wara, among others,
one gains access to secret knowledge by traveling and working for a reputed
master (soma). Some villages may not have even a single jo, while in many
others several societies may coexist and compete with one another. Although
jow are considered men's organizations, in numerous cases women may make
offerings to and even seek help from one of the jo deities. Furthermore,
each jo has one female official who may perform important ritual functions,
though she is not supposed to know the society's secrets. Bamana rely on
their jow for social interaction and as a means to address such problems
as sickness, misfortune, and mystical aggression. While these societies
are influential in political and judicial matters, today most of their power
is overshadowed by state institutions and Islam.